My Virtual Vacation package arrived from California

My package came from Natalie! She put together an awesome package and from a place that I have never been before. She did a great job describing the area and included some neat goodies from around her along with some post cards and maps. In the box was also some note pads, four bars of chocolate, some California Pistachio Nuts, some Country Herb Almonds, some stitch markers that she made, some Cascade Pastaza yarn - 50% Llama/50% Wool - it's beautiful, now to find something to knit and felt with it, two skeins of Panda Wool sock yarn in Ultramarine----very beautiful----had to keep Cathy away from it. She stole me magenta Panda Wool, although she did replace it with another wonderful color...lol.

But back to my package, there was also an insulated lunch bag with sheep all over it---how perfect! Then there was a book, called Knitting for Peace. It has some history about war knitting times and talks about all the different causes that need help from knitters. There are lots of patterns to go along with the special causes with do's and don't's for each group. It is really neat.

Thank you Natalie for a wonderful tour of your part of California! It was very special!

My Summer Swap package arrived from Ireland

Fiadhnat was my wonderful partner in the WhoDuKnit Summer Swap. My package arrived last week and I am just now getting around to posting.

Fiadhnat sent me some purple and red yarn from Ireland, some note pads, a ceramic thingy that you would put dried flowers in and hang on the wall, some wine charms, five different kinds of chocolate, some doilies, a memory book, and the most precious of all was a morse code necklass. It had beads on it that spelt out three words....Deb and Chuck. That was the neatest thing every and will cherish it forever!

Thank you Fiadhnat very much!

Christmas Around The World Questionnaire

Are you religious? Yes
How long have you been knitting? 30+ years
Would you consider yourself a Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced? Intermediate
Do you have any other hobbies besides knitting? Photography
Favorite color(s)? Purple and Green
Do you collect anything? Yarn and dogs
Are you allergic to any fibers or animals? No
Do you have any pets? 4 dogs, 1 cat, 1 bird, 3 tanks of fish, 4 geckos
Coffee, Tea, or Hot Chocolate? Iced Tea
Cookies or Sweets? Sweets
Do you knit socks? Yes
If not socks then what? (tell us about your favorite knits) Bags
Do you put up a Christmas tree? If not then what do you do? I put out a ceramic tree that I made 30 years ago
Favorite holiday treats? Pie
Favorite holiday smells? Apple Pie
Do you celebrate Christmas in a traditional or unconventional way? Unconventional Please elaborate. We celebrate with the grandkids mostly
What are your favorite holiday traditions? Handmade stockings and a ceramic christmas tree
Finish the sentence: “For me Christmas is all about....” Celebrating the birth of Christ
If you were a Christmas ornament you would be…….? A star
What was your favorite gift you've ever received? Don't KnowOr given?
When do you start your Christmas? After Thanksgiving
Do you send Christmas cards? Yes Do you make them or buy them? Make them
What is your favorite Christmas dish? Ham
Carolers are at your door. What do you do? Open the door and listen to them, then thank them
When do you open presents? Christmas eve or Christmas morning? Christmas morning
Do you celebrate with family or friends or both? Both

I'm so excited!

I just heard from my SP11 partner. She signes her email, Pops and is from the UK! How cool is that. I am so excited to be a part of this swap. I have also been in touch with my downstream partner too.

This is going to be so much fun!

Aunt Pat turned 80!

Saturday, Cathy, Chuck and I went to Chuck's Aunt Pat's 80th birthday party. It was done in an hawaiian theme and was in her senior high rise that she lives in. We got to see family members that we have ont seen in 8 years. It was really neat!
Chuck with his Aunt!

Me with Aunt Pat

Cathy talking with Chuck, he was boring her with all of the details of the dvd that was playing during the party. It was a collection of all the old family films that had been collected over the years.

As you can see, we all dressed the part for the theme!

Helpful Rhymes

A little ditty for teaching kids (or adults) to knit:

In through the front door,

Once around the back,

Peek through the window,

And off jumps Jack.

And another one for the knit stitch:

Under the fence,

Catch the sheep,

Back we come,

Off we leap.

Let's not forget purling:

In front of the fence,

Catch the goat,

back we go,

jump off the boat.

And casting off:

Knit yourself over,

Invite your friend, too,

Leap frog over,

Lie down, Sue.

George, Larry, his brother Daryl and his other brother Daryl

Here's the family of chirstmas stockings and socks. I knit George and Larry, Elaine knit Daryl and his other brother Daryl. George was knit using two handed fair isle. Larry was knit using intarsia. You can see the difference in the width of the two stockings. George is more narrow and Larry is wider. You can use either method, just depends on how you want your stocking to look.







George on the blocking board!















Larry on the blocking board





















Daryl and his other brother Daryl
knitted by Elaine


If you are interested in the patterns they will be available here on October 1, 2007. Come join the fun! You never know what you will fall in love with!

SP 11 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I love to knit with feltable wool. Haven't found one yet that I don't like!
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? In the knitpics case they came in. The older ones are in a needle case for circular needles.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? I have been knitting for 30+ years and taught myself to knit from a book. Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? Advanced
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? No
5. What's your favorite scent? Lavender
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Yes Favorite candy? Chocolate
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Wood crafts, jewelry making, crocheting, drawing, photography. Do you spin? No, but want to learn.
8. What kind of music do you like? Christian Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Yes
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Green and purple Any colors you just can't stand? Nope
10. What is your family situation? I have been married for 30 years Do you have any pets? 4 dogs, 1 cat, 3 birds, 4 geckos, 3 tanks of fish
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yes, love all of them!
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? bags and scarves
13. What are you knitting right now? A shawl and a scarf
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Lordy yes!
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Circular Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Aluminum
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes, both.
17. How old is your oldest UFO? 3 weeks
18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
19. Is there anything that you collect? Miniatures and yarn!
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? Love any books on felting. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Interweave knits, Cast On
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Nope
22. Are you a sock knitter? Yes What are your foot measurements? I wear a size 7 shoe.
23. When is your birthday? 7/29/58
24. Are you on Ravelry? Yes If so, what's your ID? debbrown

Whew, that was alot! Anything else you want to know, just ask.

Giant Sized Sock......lol!

Look at the size of that sock! No, it's not for a giant, but almost! It is actually a christmas stocking that I am test knitting for a friend. It is awesome! I can't show you the entire stocking, but wanted to show the heel and to say how neat it worked out. The pattern and graph are really cool and easy to follow and I turned the heel all my by self...lol. Check back later to see the finished stocking.

SP 11

WOO HOO!!!! I just signed up for SP 11!!! I can't wait for it to start! I have been reading about several of them, but have been missing the sign up dates, but not this time! Hehehehe!

Lordy I love Atlanta!

Atlanta is composed mostly of one-way streets. The only way to get out of downtown Atlanta is to turn around and start over when you reach Greenville , South Carolina. All directions start with, "Go down Peachtree" and include the phrase, "When you see the Waffle House." Except that in Cobb County, where all directions begin with, "Go to the Big Chicken." Peachtree Street has no beginning and no end and is not to be confused with:

Peachtree Circle
Peachtree Place
Peachtree Lane
Peachtree Road
Peachtree Parkway
Peachtree Run
Peachtree Terrace
Peachtree Avenue
Peachtree Commons
Peachtree Battle
Peachtree Corners
New Peachtree
Old Peachtree
West Peachtree
Peachtree-Dunwoody
Peachtree-Chamblee
Peachtree Industrial Boulevard

Atlantans only know their way to work and their way home. If you ask anyone for directions, they will always send you down Peachtree.

Atlanta is the home of Coca-Cola. Coke's all they drink there so don't ask for any other soft drink unless it's made by Coca-Cola. Even if you want something other than a Coca-Cola, it's still called Coke.

The gates at Atlanta 's Hartsfield International Airport are about 32 miles away from the Main Concourse, so wear sneakers and pack a lunch.

The 8 am rush hour is from 6:30 to 10:30 AM.
The 5 pm rush hour is from 3:00 to 7:30 PM.
Friday's rush hour Thursday afternoon and lasts through 2 am Saturday.

Only a native of Atlanta can pronounce Ponce De Leon Avenue, so do not attempt the Spanish pronunciation. People will simply tilt their heads to the right and stare at you. The Atlanta pronunciation is "pawntz duh LEE-awn." And yes, they have a street named simply, "Boulevard."

The falling of one raindrop causes all drivers to immediately forget all traffic rules. If a single snowflake falls, the city is paralyzed for three days and it's on all the channels as a news flash every 15 minutes for a week. Overnight, all grocery stores will be sold out of milk, bread, bottled water, toilet paper, and beer.

I-285, the loop that encircles Atlanta, which has a posted speed limit of 55 mph (but you have to maintain 80 mph just to keep from getting run over), is known to truckers as "The Watermelon 500." Don't believe the directional markers on highways: I-285 is marked "East" and "West" but you may be going North or South. The locals identify the direction by referring to the "Inner Loop " and the "Outer Loop." If you travel on Hwy 92 North, you will actually be going southeast.

Never buy a ladder or mattress in Atlanta . Just go to one of the interstates and you will soon find one in the middle of the road. The last thing you want to do is give another driver the finger, unless your car is armored, your trigger finger is itchy and your AK-47 has a full clip.

Possums sleep in the middle of the road with their feet in the air. There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 live in Georgia . There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 live in Georgia , If it grows, it sticks. If it crawls, it bites.

If you notice a vine trying to wrap itself around your leg, you have about 20 seconds to escape, before you are completely captured and covered with Kudzu, another ill-advised "import," like the carp, starling, English sparrow, and other ''exotic wonders."

It's not a shopping cart, it's a buggy. "Fixinto" is one word (I'm fixinto go to the store). Sweet Tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking it when you're 2 years old.

"Jeet?" is actually a phrase meaning "Did you eat?"
"Momma-nem" means: How's Mother and all of the other children and other members of the family doing.

Lordy, I love ATLANTA !

Looky What I Got!

Cathy Sent me a bottle today and in it was some really cool jammies, a neat syringe ink pen and some earrings that match my jammies. The earrings are blue and pink flip flops, how cool!

You know the jammies and the earrings will be perfect for my virtual vacation. Oh I can't wait to wear them. The colors match and everything!

Cathy, you're the neatest!

My version of a moebius scarf!

This is my version of a moebius scarf! The neatest part is it's made out of hand dyed yarn that I dyed with kool-aid, yes you heard right, kool-aid. It's Vigdis' fault! She got all of us on WhoDuKnit addicted to dyeing our own yarn with kool-aid. It's fun and easy to do, no mess at all! If you want directions, let me know, I know them by heart and have started a journal of which flavors to mix to get some really unique colors!

Knitter's Virtual Vacation Swap Questionnaire

1. If you could visit any state in the US, which would it be and why? Colorado, because my read Dad is buryed there and I would like to visit his grave.
2. If you could visit any country in the world, other than your own, which would it be and why?England, I love the green country side and the villagesl
3. Have you ever driven across several states/providence/countries? Yes, from Georgia to Texas.
4. Have you ever visited someplace you consider exotic? Never Where was it?
5. What was your favorite "travel" vacation? To Germany Why? The snow was taller than I was.
6. Have you ever played tourist in your own home city/state (if international, country)? Yes! Explain. I like to go downtown Atlanta and go walking to see the sites.
7. Are you a museum visitor, beach comer or an amusement seeker? I love to walk the beach, but would go to every amusement park in the world if possible.
8. What's your favorite type of yarn? 100% wool.
9. What's your least favorite type of yarn? Acrylic
10. What items do you like to knit/crochet? Knit scarves, bags, socks, dishclothes
11. What do you pack, knit/crochet wise when you go on vacation? Knitting
12. What other crafts do you do/would like to do other than Knit/Crochet? Photography
13. Are you allergic to anything? (Yarn wise or treat wise) Nothing
14. What is your favorite color? Green Least Favorite? None
15. Sweet or Savory (Treat not personality)? Sweet (personality too...lol)
16. Anything else we are forgetting to ask that you think your partner desperately needs to know? I love to be around people and learn new things. I really need a vacation and look forward to sharing one with a new pal!

See what was dropped on my doorstep on Mother's Day

These three baby's were abandoned by their parents and guess who is feeding them. Larry, Curly and Moe, dirty faces and all! That's what they looked like right after their afternoon feeding. They settled back into one of my old socks made into a nest and went to sleep. Jane, do these fit into your Mother's Day blessing? And they get to go to work with me everyday, since they have to be feed first thing in the morning, several times during the day, and last thing at night.

My finches just had babys and each of them died, I wonder if I put these babys in the finches nest, if they would take care of them...lol. The only thing is they are already bigger than the adult finches. So, since I don't get calls, cards or gifts on Mother's Day, I guess God decided to give me three babys to take care of. Boy has it been years since I bottle fed any kittens, puppies and birds....lol.

Look at my new hobby!!!!!

Wow what fun! When I first heard that Vigdis was dyeing yarn with kool-aid, I thought, yuck, what a mess and why would you want to do that? Then our WhoDuKnit group is reading Died in the Wool this month and someone suggested that we dye our own yarn with kool-aid and then knit something neat with it. Well, I thought, it sounded simple enough, just sounded messy and messy I don't like. But, I'd give it a try. I ordered some wool from Knitpics and bought some kool-aid, grape, orange, lemon-lime, and cherry. Here's a photo of what I started with:

The only thing not shown is the rubber gloves, the small bowls and the plastic wrap. The first hank, I used all four colors in their own places on the yarn.

I think it turned out nice and will make a very nice scarf, at least that is the plan for it.

Then, my plans for the next hank was to sprinkle dye it. Now that was fun, just puting the sprinkles anywhere I wanted to and mixing the colors to get more colors.



And here are both hanks hanging to dry on the back porch:


Now, let me ask you, did you see a lot of mess in the kitchen? The answer would be no. I put a towel over the stove, since the microwave hangs over the stove. The bowls of mixed up kool-aid sat on the counter to the left of the stove with huge syringes in them. On the first hank, as I colored a section, I would lift that section out of the pyrex dish and put it in a small plastic bowl so that my next color would not mix with the first, then kept shifting each section into bowls until all four colors were done. I baked each hank in the microwave, rinsed, rung it out and put it out to dry on the porch. The only mess there was, were a few drops of kool-aid on the towel from the syringes. I used an old towel so it didn't matter anyway. Nothing on the counter, floor, walls or even on the shirt I was wearing.
I think I have found a new fun hobby. I can just imagine what colors I can come up with by mixing kool-aid colors together. I may never have to buy yarn at the store again...lol. Just imagine being able to say "I hand dyed the yarn for that handbag myself, or that shawl, or that scarf. Just think of the options. It is so much cheaper than the yarn at the LYS too....lol. That's bad, don't let Joan see this...lol. But, then I can start selling her some of my hand dyed yarn...lol.

A special evening!

Just thought I would share a few special photos! The first one is of course me and my very special hubby Chuck. We don't get dressed up very much and never have our photo taken, especially together, since I'm always the one taking photos. We went to a coworkers wedding on friday night and had a blast.

The next photo is of most of the office staff I work with. There were three people in the office that weren't invited to the wedding.....now wait, I know that wasn't right, but it wasn't my wedding and not my decision. So, the two guys on either end are the docs, the one in white, of course the bride, Ashlee, that does check-in, the two brides maids Terri the Office Manager and Chera, also work in the front office, then there's Kim that is our xray tech and of course me that works in the back off. The three that are missing are Marie that does referrals, and Becky and Janice, also nurses like myself. Don't ask why they weren't invited, it's a very long story and don't make a whole lot of sense, but it happened.

Then there was the reason for the exciting evening! The weding of Ashlee and Todd! It was a very beautiful wedding at the Bona Allen Mansion in Historic Buford, Georgia. I thought we would never find it. I put the address in the gps unit and thought it would be a piece of cake to find, but then their was an accident on I-85 with a fatality, so they shut down the entire highway and we were only 1 1/2 miles away from the exit that we needed to get off at. Thank goodness they put 7:00pm start time for the wedding but didn't start until 7:30pm. I was able to get there right at 7:00 and get some really good photos.

Sunday 2/25 I think....lol

This has been a long, fast and busy month. I changed jobs at the end of last month, gee, it don't seem like it's been a month. I used to work as a medical assistant for a doc that is associated with DeKalb Medical Center in Decatur. The hospital is in Decatur, the office is in Lilburn. I left there five years ago to go work for DeKalb County Government, then while back in the doc's office with my hubby for an appointment, they ask me to come back to work to take of the children...lol. I had to explain to my hubby later that that didn't mean to baby sit but to run the back office for them, as the other two ma's are very young....lol. I told them to call me if they had an opening and two days later I get a call from the practice manger with a job offer. I said I would think about it because it was a cut in pay.

The next day at work was horrible and I cried all day because I was mad, so that gave me my answer. As soon as the hopsital got their paperwork together I turned in my two week notice and left. Now, my feet, legs and back hurts every day when I come home. How smart was I to give up a sit down job to take one that has me running all day at my age. Being 48, soon to be 49 in July, doesn't seem that old until you are running all day....lol. But, I really do love being in the medical field. I love working with people and helping them to feel better. So, I guess it is worth it. I have lost 15 pounds this month, so I hope the pounds keep falling off with every step I make.

I am knitting all the time I'm not at work, I take my knitting with me everywhere I go. I'm working on an entrelac scarf in blue cashmere blend yarn, a booga bag, and a sleeveless sweater. I just finished a tote for my ITEIII partner, just gotta add the handles and charms and then try to figure out what to buy her for her extra goodies. I know I'm going to go by the bath and body works store. What girl doesn't like a few pampering goodies and then maybe by the christian book store to look for a neat planner, since she is going back to school in March and might need a little help with organization.

I just took a sock class and knitted a baby sock....it is so cute. I will post a photo later. My computer crashed last weekend, so I don't have any photo editing software on the new computer to be able to downsize the photos. I hate having to buy new software, as the software on the old laptop was given to me and I don't have the original copies......ugh. I think I will just buy the photoshop elements this time, it's only about $100.00 and the photoshop cs2 is about $800.00. Big difference!

I have enough sock yarn to knit 10 pairs of adult socks, but need to finish the scarf first before I start a pair of socks. I also promised my mom that I would knit her the Northern Lights sweater in one of the back issues of Interweave Knits magazine. I have all of the yarn, a whole garbage bag full, but haven't started on it yet either. I need about 24 more hours in a day...lol, or not to have to work.

The dogs are driving me crazy, they have decided to start getting up and roaming the house all night long, keeping me awake. Tonight I heard Dottie crunching on something and it was my bluetooth headset for my phone. I screamed at her and threw her in her crate. I told my hubby all four of them were sleeping in their crates at night now, so I could get more sleep. They will probably whine some and I'll have to get up and scold them to make them be quiet again, but I'm not having them roaming the house all night. Star, my big horse dog, got my entrelac scarf bag down last night and tore the bag that it was in. I had it in one of those "It's in the bag" bags. It has a handle on it, with a hole in the top to run your yarn out through. She tore the handle off and a hole in the plastic. She is 12 years old and I swear she is senile. When I got the new computer last weekend, I woke up to her tearing up the cardboard box in the kitchen floor. Why? Don't make any sense to me at all. Except that she is stupid. Dottie has also torn up two pairs of shoes in the last week. It has just not been a good time for me.

Now I have to take my old laptop that crashed, to the Geek Squad and let them retrieve all the files off the hard drive. I have tons of photos and knitting patterns on there that I do not want to loose. Being a hobby photographer, I should have put the photos on cds, but no, I couldn't be that smart. I did get a coupon from Best Buy for 10% off of an external hard drive, so you know what my next hardware purchase will be...lol.

International Tote Exchange III

It's time for International Tote Exchange III. So how does it work? You will make a tote/purse/handbag for your Secret Pal and a different Secret Pal will make a tote for you. The "totes" can be big or small, knit or crochet, felted or not - whatever you want to make. If you are interested please read the sign-up process, rules and schedule (http://internationaltotexchangeiii.blogspot.com/ ) and then, if still interested, send an e-mail as described in the process. SIGN-UPS END JANUARY 24, 2007!!

I am a Violet!

I am a Violet What Flower Are You?